JPS60137352A - Dental x-ray total jaw and head part standard photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus that selectively performs panoramic X-ray photography of the whole jaw and standard X-ray photography of the head in the dental and jaw region, and is capable of handling a plurality of imaging styles in 1% of cases. This invention relates to a dental X-ray full-jaw and head standard imaging device that automates the selection of X-ray irradiation field limiting apertures.

The above-mentioned device, which is generally referred to as a panoramic/cephalometric X-ray imaging device, consists of a dental X-ray full jaw imaging device (hereinafter referred to as the panoramic device) and a cranial X-ray standard photography device (hereinafter referred to as the Ceph 10 device). It is combined into one device, compared to general panoramic devices.

It is indispensable in the field of orthodontics because it can be used to understand the actual condition of a patient's malocclusion and to analyze the morphology of the jaw body.
Widely popular. This device is installed on the side of the imaging section of a general panoramic device, and has a head fixation mechanism called a Cefa-0-stat mechanism at the tip of a long arm that protrudes to the side of the device. The straight line connecting the two external auditory holes is the cephalometric X-ray aiming axis, and in other words, it is rotatable around the intersection of the aiming axis and the vertical midline, and these rotating parts are A loading section for a cassette near which an X-ray image of the head is projected is mounted so that its distance from the subject can be adjusted. With this panoramic/cephalometric device, for example, when a patient who has completed panoramic imaging of the dental arch is transferred to the cephalostat mechanism and 7770 imaging is performed at a magnification of 11 times, such as the front, side, and 45° oblique views of the head. There are certain operations that must be performed prior to X-ray exposure. This involves changing the irradiation field limiting diaphragm of the X-ray source; in other words, panoramic imaging uses a vertically long slit-shaped diaphragm, so even if X# is irradiated with the slit in place, a fluoroscopic image of the head cannot be obtained. In other words, for cephalometric imaging, as with normal X-ray imaging, the aperture must have an area large enough to capture a transmitted image of the entire front and side surfaces of the head on 4- or 6-cut X-ray film. Must be. A more detailed front image: Since the object is symmetrical with respect to the vertical midline, a slightly vertically elongated rectangular aperture (hereinafter referred to as a front mask) is used, and for the side image, the vertical direction of the above rectangular mask is used. A specially shaped diaphragm (hereinafter referred to as a lateral mask) with one side cut out in the shape of a circular arc with a filter effect corresponding to the shape of the lateral side of the skull is used.

In addition, in cephalometric imaging, as mentioned above, the line connecting the external auditory foramina is the central axis of the X-ray sight.

The projection positions are different for the front image and the side image, and if the film size is the same, one of the images will be missing. Therefore, by moving the center of the cassette as the X-ray aiming axis when facing the front, and by moving the center of the cassette by, for example, 30 fi toward the patient's face when viewing from the side, it is possible to take images of the entire front and side views. In conventional equipment that performs switching, there are multiple imaging modalities, so changing the imaging modalities requires replacing the slit and mask on the X-ray source side, loading the cassette (on the norama side or cephalometric side, Furthermore, switching operations such as setting the loading position of the cephalometric cassette relative to the imaging site must be performed by the operator over an entire inch.

This operation is not only more complicated than the intraoral sex photography of the subordinate, but also requires a level of photographic skill. However, in general, it is impossible to require the skill and experience of an X-ray technician to surpass that of a regular X-ray technician in a city dental clinic, and it is impossible to require the same level of skill and experience as that of an X-ray technician.
Operational errors such as taking 10 photos often occur,
There is a problem in that redoing the imaging increases the patient's exposure to AIJ. This is especially true in the current situation where it is sometimes operated by dental hygienists other than dentists (A4).

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned current situation, and it solves the problems when switching the imaging format of the conventional panoramic/cephalometric X-ray imaging device, and makes it possible to change the setting of the irradiation field limiting aperture of the X-ray source with The operator's operations are simplified by automatically loading the side cassette and linking it to the loading position.

The object of the present invention is to provide a convenient device that improves workability and allows accurate head standard photographs to be obtained without any possibility of operational errors. In other words, Panoramic Cephalometric Xi! i! In an imaging device, a slit for panoramic imaging and masters for front and side standard imaging are movably shelled in front of the radiation window of the X-ray source. and an imaging style discriminating means for detecting whether a cassette is loaded in a standard imaging head fixing mechanism and whether the loaded cassette is in a frontal imaging position or a side imaging position, and determining the imaging style intended by the operator; The output signal of this means controls an electric drive body such as a servo motor or an electromagnetic solenoid, and moves, rotates, or replaces the diaphragm plate to select one of the slits and masks suitable for the photographing style. death.

X11i! A total amount of X-rays for use in Sonoshina, characterized by having an aperture selection and setting means set at a predetermined position in front of the emission window of the source.
r and head standard imaging equipment.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of the panoramic SEPH 0 X-ray imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from above. However, the subject is not shown. In the figure, the photographing unit (3) is attached to a main pillar (2) shelved on a base (1) so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction, and has a pedestal (4) that protrudes in the same direction as the base (1).

A support arm (5) is provided that protrudes long on the right side. The pedestal (4) is a cassette support (7) that movably supports an X-ray source (6) and a flat cassette for panoramic photography.
A horizontal arm (8) with and arranged facing each other at both ends is suspended from the rotation axis (9P) (in the figure (upper position)) of the rotation mechanism in the pedestal.This rotation axis (9P) The horizontal arm (
8) Rotate clockwise (arrow a) from the position indicated by the dotted line (81) and move the Xm source (6
A panoramic photograph is taken on the cassette of the cassette support (7p) facing 1. Focus of the X-ray source at this time (6X')
The emitted X-rays are passed through a slit-shaped aperture (lO
), the two rotation axes that illuminate the subject in a beam shape are (9
When the rotation is completed at p), the horizontal arm (8) moves to (
Since it stops at a position further clockwise than 8), when performing cephalometric imaging, the X-ray sighting mechanism returns the horizontal arm 2 to the position of the rotation axis 'J &: (9s).
(slightly rotated in the opposite direction), cephalometric imaging aiming axis (X8)
Correctly align the center axis of X-ray radiation. After that, the arrow (
It is rotated in the b1 direction, fixed at the position (78) shown by the solid line, and retracted outside the X-ray radiation cone. Mr. Sefa 0 Stan l- who transferred the patient @ (12+ is the 1 protruding from the fixing table (13) provided at the tip of the long support arm (5) mentioned above)
A paired lot 04) and a single base 05).

A head positioning mechanism OF, which rotates by 45 degrees or 906 degrees by operating a handle 071 about the center axis 06) of this base 05), and a pair of supports whose position is movable with respect to the base 05). A straight line (21C) connecting a pair of ear rods (2j) provided on the head positioning mechanism 0 and J is supported by a rod 091. ) is the reference axis of the cephalometric imaging aiming axis (Xl+) mentioned above. 122) is the cassette loaded in the cassette holding part (20), and 1
Usually, 8 or 6 pieces are used. (
C) is the sensor section of the automatic exposure device.

Next, according to Figure 2 ■■, perform the above cephalonuta) e#
The detection mechanism of the photographing style discriminating means provided in 1121, which is the main part of the present invention, will be explained below. The figure is a front view of the head positioning mechanism (18! in Figure 1) as seen from the iX group side when the handle (17) is operated to set the front shooting position. Detailed explanations will be omitted, and the mechanisms that cannot be shown in Fig. 1 will be briefly explained using known information. Through the internal mechanism, the ear rods (21) (2) are operated by operating the handle (171).
Adjust the mutual distance of 11 (Ll'< the distance between both external auditory foramina of the patient, and then use the index (2) to raise the lower rim of the patient's orbit so that it is on the same horizontal line as the center of the external auditory foramina ( 2
By finely adjusting 8) in the anteroposterior direction, head positioning for cephalometric imaging is completed. The cassette holding part @) is the board (20P)
,! : , upper guide plate (29i) and lower guide plate (
Support)) The above detection mechanism example consists of two reflective photomicrosensors cl provided on the board (20P) and shown by dotted lines.
(Groove type photomicrosensor G3 provided on 321 and the lower guide plate (support)) and the above sensor C3]
The cassette that activates the I G2+ ■The light absorbing part (34), such as a black rayon formed on the back side, and the 7-inch plate attached)
and a light shielding plate (35) made of an elastic member that operates the light shielding plate (35). The sensor (3) 1321□□□) is a highly sensitive non-contact switch made of a combination of a photocoupler and a photocurrent amplifier. With the above configuration, the cassette @ is inserted from the arrow (C1 direction) and the position where it stops at υ (36) is the Sefa 0 frontal photographing position, that is, the cassette center line (
22C) is the display fc provided at the center of the lower guide c1])
Mark the position that matches the V groove of l, and attach the light shielding plate C1 shown in figure ■.
51 is lowered into the cassette (c), the senna (33) outputs a light blocking signal, and the sensor (31) also outputs a signal without receiving reflected light.Next, when moving to side photography, the operator Move the cassette @ to the right and align the center line above (
22C') position, that is, the V groove shown in the display.
The light absorbing section Cl4) on the back side of the cassette selectively operates the sensor (32). In this way, by combining the output signals of the three sensors, the photographing style discriminating circuit (to be described later)
(b) Signal of no cassette during panoramic shooting, (b) Signal of cephalometer from the front, (c) Signal of cephalometer from the side, and (c) Signal of cephalometer from the side.) A cassette is loaded, but it is not in any of the positions listed in (b) ← J above. In other words, it outputs four types of signals, including signals when localization is not performed. For this reason, in addition to determining the imaging style intended by the surgeon, the signal (above) is used to detect if the cassette is accidentally touched and the position shifts after the cassette has been aligned.
It has a monitoring function to prevent photography from occurring as it is.

Next, the third. As shown in Fig. 4, the selection setting mechanism (4) of the X-ray field aperture plate (40) provided in front of the radiation window of the
1) will be explained. Figure 3 shows the horizontal arm shown in Figure 1 (
This is a front view of the X-ray source (6) suspended from one end of 8) and integrally formed with the horizontal arm, as seen from the subject side. It is broken to show the internal structure. Figure 4 is the IV of Figure 3.
- IT' is a side sectional view of the X-ray tube with its X-ray emission window (
(Orchid) only the location is shown and details are omitted.

In the figure, the suspension arm (
X-ray source, i.e., X-ray tube (6) housed at the end of 8f
An X-ray field aperture plate (40) movable in a direction perpendicular to the X-ray emission direction is installed in front of the X-ray emission window (6W). For example, a filter material such as a brass plate or a copper plate that absorbs a predetermined amount of X-rays is bonded to the filter material, and to this, the width +81 for panoramic imaging described above is, for example, 15 mm. A slightly vertically elongated rectangular mask (45) for horizontal or 45° oblique imaging and a mask (481) for lateral imaging with a special shape are arranged in an array.
A V-v' cross section of 6) is shown in FIG. 5, and some explanation will be added. A sloped section (46F) is cut into the brass plate (441) bonded to the above lead plate (43) in the shape shown in Figure 3, and this is used to capture the external appearance of the nose, mouth, etc. when photographing the patient's side. Therefore, it is a filter that attenuates the X-ray intensity.

This 11,111-sided mask for simultaneous soft tissue imaging is not limited to the fixed type shown in the figure, but there are also models with movable filter parts that can be adapted to the patient's unique profile, and there are also masks for frontal use (45) with a single filter. By inserting and pulling out the panoramic slit and frontal mask, this aperture plate (40) can accommodate the above three types of shooting styles (including 45° oblique). (4η) and a cylindrical nut (4II) are fixed to the right end thereof, and a pair of parallel guide shafts (49) that pass through the bearing portion (4η) and movably support the aperture plate (40). Suspension arm (8
A pair of supports (51) and a support plate (521) are installed between a pair of support plates (521) which are formed on the flat surface part (@) formed in the cast body of )'.

The screw shaft screwed into the cylindrical nut +48+ is rotatably supported by a bearing t55) provided on the support plate 62) and a bearing pedestal t55) with one end interposed between the flat parts. At the same time, it is directly connected to the output shaft of a unipolar four-phase step motor (561), which is also attached to the support plate (52). It rotates with high precision at a one-step angle of 9 degrees.The reference position is the position where the center line of the aperture plate (40j is the position shown in the figure, that is, the panoramic slit) 001 coincides with the center axis of the X-ray radiation cone.

The position detection mechanism (5 light shielding plates) is provided at the upper right end.The same groove-shaped photo-microsensor (601W 1M light or light shielding is released, and the sensor (rhyme) inputs the signal to the control circuit.Aperture plate (4α
is moved to the arrow (dl) by the rotation of the motor (561) through the operation of the above-mentioned detection mechanism for discriminating the shooting style and the discriminating circuit described next is stopped at a position that coincides with the central axis of X-ray radiation.

Next, the 6th. The control circuit for the photographing style determination and aperture p-selection scattering means will be explained with reference to FIG. Figure 6 shows the control circuit block composed of digital logic circuits.
The figure is a control block diagram by a microcomputer. In FIG.

The photographing style discrimination circuit 151 receives a signal (100) from the detection mechanism provided in the cassette holder 08 on the side of the camera 10, for example, when there is no cassette (during panoramic imaging).

7710 front position is (010), Cefa 0IQ surface position is (001), and after the cassette is aligned with the above front or side position, it touches the body of 6M person, etc., and the normal position is shifted, resulting in non-orientation. Natchageai (000)
The imaging style of the surgeon is determined by converting it into a signal. A circuit activated by the above (000) signal is a monitoring circuit. On the other hand, the control circuit for the aperture selection and setting mechanism on the X-ray source side consists of (66) to (69). (It moves forward in the d1 direction, then reverses and moves backward in the e1 direction.) Through this operation, the sensor (601) of the aperture plate reference position detector (equipment) outputs a light shielding signal, and the slit (10) is set at a predetermined position, the block @ transport (ii9) is activated, the pulse motor stops, and panoramic imaging is performed using the slit (10).Next, the process moves to cephalometric imaging, and the cassette of the cephalostat is placed in the front position. If it is correctly loaded, block 60) outputs an advance signal in response to the signal (010).

This signal is shown in Figure 3. Distance between tllll and mask #(4) Pulse motor required to drive)
Since this is the input pulse number of .Similarly, attach the side mask (4
6) is also set by further advancing (12). However, as mentioned above, if the loading position of the center line (22C) of the cassette (22) is not correctly loaded into the V-groove of the row, the discrimination circuit (65) will output a signal (000). Therefore, the reverse signal output circuit ffl+ is activated to return the Z/P plate (40) to its original position (east line position in Figure 4), and the preparation for photographing the SEFA 0 is interrupted. The same thing happens if you touch the cassette with your hand and it moves out of position.Figure 7 shows an example of the above control circuit configured using a microcomputer.
I 7 /ff211ji 6 Figure no (241 (65i
ffO) (711) tafunctionk.

Similarly, the memory ff51 which stores the program shown in the flowchart shown below also has the function (69) in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the control program stored in the memory ff51 or a flowchart showing the data processing procedure of the circuit of FIG.
The reference position detection mechanism 67) shown in FIG. Preparations for X-ray exposure for panoramic photography are completed. If the imaging is just a panorama, this is the end of the imaging process, but the operator continues to load the cassette into the cassette holder (2) on the cephalometric side to determine the imaging style intended by the operator and send a signal. What is output is step (871) #D@81 (891 is a function that determines an operation error and returns to step (831).

Step (Found) is a function to judge whether the front mask (45: or side mask (46) is set correctly or not. 9. When (YES), prepare for X-ray exposure for cephalometric imaging as well as panoramic imaging. Completed. (No).

The process of returning the drawing board (40) to its original position is Nutep value)
The above operation is repeated until the operator notices and correctly loads the cassette.

Although the above is a practical example of the present invention, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the illustrations and explanations.
The same applies to devices in which the cephalostat mechanism is installed on the left side of the device.

The diaphragm plate may be not a rectangular flat plate but a single circular plate or an occluded circular plate, and the slit and mask may be replaced by rotating the plate. It is also possible to consider a mechanism in which a plurality of diaphragm plates each having a slit and a mask are moved in and out of the front surface of the X-ray emission window using an electromagnetic solenoid, as if in a picture-story show, and this does not fall within the scope of this invention. be. Furthermore, the detection mechanism of the cassette holding section on the cephalometric side is not necessarily limited to a photomicrosensor, and various types such as a mechanical microswitch can be used.

This invention is configured as described above.

The problem with conventional panoramic and cephalometric X-ray imaging systems is that the operator must perform cassette procedures in response to changes in the imaging style, such as when performing panoramic imaging and cephalometric imaging consecutively, or when performing only cephalometric imaging. By simply loading the cassette into the CEF 10 stat and accurately loading the cassette into the X-ray meter, the operator can detect the imaging style intended by the operator and determine the slit that matches that style. This improves work efficiency by automatically selecting the mask and quickly setting it in a predetermined position in front of the X-ray emission window. It is possible to provide a convenient device that prevents an increase in the radiation dose of the subject due to repair and that can easily obtain panoramic and cephalometric X-ray photographs with high diagnostic ability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a standard dental X-ray full jaw and head imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 (2) is a front view of the cephalostat mechanism of the above device as seen from the X-ray source side. Figure ■ is a partially cutaway view of the detection mechanism installed in the cassette holding part of the above mechanism, and Figure 3 is a front view of the X-ray source section of the above device as seen from the subject side, and the diaphragm in front of the X-ray source. FIG. 4 is a side view of the X-ray source, showing the configuration of the selection setting mechanism; FIG. 4 is a side view of the X-ray source; FIG. 3 is a v-v' side side view of the side mask of the X-ray irradiation field diaphragm plate. The figure is a block diagram of a circuit that controls the above means using a microcomputer, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control circuit of FIG. 7 or 8. (5)...Long support arm (6)...X1w source (6X)...X-ray focus (6W) - X-ray emission window (
71...Panorama cassette support (81...Horizontal arm 001...Panorama slit 0...
Standard imaging head fixing part @)...Cassette holding part of α2 above (2)...Standard imaging cassette (Foundation)...Detection mechanism of imaging style discrimination means...X-ray irradiation field aperture plate
(41)...Aperture selection and setting mechanism (451--Mask for front standard photography only)...Mask for side-view standard photography (thin)...Cylindrical nut of aperture plate movement mechanism (49)--Aperture A pair of parallel guide shaft tracks of the plate moving mechanism...Screw shaft of the drawing board moving mechanism (56)...Electric drive body (pulse motor) (5η...Reference position detection mechanism for drawing board selection setting
(6■... Shooting style discrimination circuit and cassette position monitoring circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] l A horizontal arm in which an X-ray source and a cassette are placed facing each other across the subject's head is rotated around the subject's head, and the cassette is moved in the opposite direction of the rotation. In addition to taking panoramic images of the entire jaw of the moving head, the camera also takes regular and lateral standard photographs of the head by switching to a cassette attached to the head fixation section, which is installed via a long support arm. In this apparatus, an X@irradiation field palm plate having a panoramic photographing slit and a front and side standard photographing mask formed thereon in front of the Xls emission window of the X-ray source is provided in a movable manner. An imaging style determining means detects whether a cassette is loaded in the head fixation unit and whether the loaded cassette is in a frontal imaging position or a side imaging position, and determines the imaging style intended by the operator; Dental X-ray full jaw and head, characterized in that it is provided with aperture selection and setting means for controlling the aperture plate, moving the aperture plate, selecting one of the slit and the mask, and setting it at a predetermined position. Department standard photography equipment. 2. The dental X-ray full jaw and head standard photographing device according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray irradiation field diaphragm plate is a rectangular flat plate, and slits and masks are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the plate. 3. Dental X-ray complete 1 and head standard imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray irradiation field aperture plate is a disk or an occluded disk, and slits and masks are arranged in a radial manner. . 4. [Dental X111i according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dynamic driving body is a pulse motor!
Full jaw and head standard imaging equipment. 5. Monitoring the relative positional relationship between the cassette and the aperture after the aperture selection setting means sets the aperture plate until the time of XM exposure;
A dental X-ray full jaw and head standard imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a monitoring circuit for maintaining the same.